What's special:

Small school based on successful FDA model

The downside:

Rough neighborhood

Review

Our review:

Frederick Douglass Academy VII (FDA VII) is a small high school open to students from across Brooklyn. Modeled on the originaI Frederick Douglass Academy in Harlem, the school is dedicated to preparing children from poor neighborhoods for higher education.

Teachers say academic standards are high. Not everyone graduates on time, but those who do are likely to go to college, according to Department of Education statistics. The school has a full-time college counselor and students go on overnight-trips to visit colleges, according to the high school directory.

Housed in a former elementary school building, FDA VII shares space with Teachers Prep. The two schools also share sports teams.

Students wear a white shirt, tie, burgundy sweater, and black pants. Students who repeatedly break the uniform code may be suspended, according to the school’s brochure. The school has a strict disciplinary code. Nonetheless, more than one-third of teachers responding to the Learning Environment Survey complained of discipline problems.

While students feel safe in the building, about 40 percent responding to the survey said they don’t feel safe in the neighborhood outside the school.

Most students enter 9th grade with poor academic skills. Still the school manages to offer a challenging curriculum that includes College Now classes in collaboration with Brooklyn College and Advanced Placement courses in English and Art History.

Jessica Endlich, former assistant principal, was named principal in 2011. She left in March, 2014. Carol Ying became the interim acting principal.

Special education: About one-fifth of students receive special education services. About half of those are in self-contained classes.

College: Graduates have been admitted to a wide range of public and private colleges, including Columbia, Cornell, Vassar Howard University, Trinity, Allegheny and Goucher.

Admissions: The school offers regular open houses.Unlike the original FDA, which has selective admissions, FDA VII has no admissions requirements. Priority goes to students who attend an open house. (Clara Hemphill, December 2012; updated with new principal name in May 2014)

InsideStats

Click tabs above to see school stats

At a glance

Shared campus?
Yes

This school shares the building with Teachers Prep HS

Number of Students328

Average Daily Attendance84%

Uniforms?
Yes

Metal detectors?
No

Students at this school

Asian

0%

Black

86%

Hispanic

13%

White

1%

Free Lunch

85%

Special ed

23%

English Language Learners

2%

INCOMING STUDENTS' PROFICIENCY:
2.21 2.40CITYWIDE AVERAGE

1 = Far below grade level

2 = Below grade level

3 = At grade level

4 = Above grade level

Citywide Average KeyThis school is Green better Blue Near Red Worse Than The Citywide Average

Safety & vibe

ARE CLASSES BIG?

Number of students in an average english class

1925 CITYWIDE AVERAGE

DO STUDENTS LIKE THE TEACHERS?

How many students say their teachers inspire them to learn?

45%
63%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

DO TEACHERS LIKE THE PRINCIPAL?

How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?

50%78%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

IS THIS SCHOOL SAFE?

How many students say they feel safe in hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?

69%82%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

How many teachers say order and discipline are maintained in the school?

35%77%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

HOW ISATTENDANCE?

How Many Students are Chronically Absent?

37%38%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

Citywide Average KeyThis school is Green better Blue Near Red Worse Than The Citywide Average

Who graduates

Class of 2014

How many students graduated within 4 years?

53%73%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

How many students graduated within 6 years?

79%80%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

Previous Years

How many students graduated within 4 years?

57%65%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

How many graduates earned an advanced regents diploma within 4 years?

5%11%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

How many students graduated within 6 years?

80%75%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

How many graduates dropped out within 4 years?

15%10%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

Citywide Average KeyThis school is Green better Blue Near Red Worse Than The Citywide Average

College prep

Does this school offer a college preparatory curriculum?

How many students took an AP or IB class and scored at least a "3" on the AP exam or a "4" on the IB exam?

1%

How Many Students took a College Course and Got a "C" or Higher?

31%

How many students passed a Regents exam for algebra 2, physics or chemistry?

10%

Are students ready for college?

How many students graduated in four years with test scores high enough to enroll at CUNY without remedial help?

16%27%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

SAT reading scores

380

418

CITYWIDE AVERAGE

497

NATIONWIDE AVERAGE

How many students graduated in four years and enrolled in college?

53%63%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

SAT math scores

383

426

CITYWIDE AVERAGE

513

NATIONWIDE AVERAGE

Is the guidance counseling helpful?

How many students say that this school provides helpful counseling on college or job-seeking?

66%76%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

Citywide Average KeyThis school is Green better Blue Near Red Worse Than The Citywide AverageNote: NA means not available or not applicable. Graduation rates not available for new schools.

Special ed & ELL

How well does this school serve students with disabilities?

How many special ed students graduated within 4 years?

27%47%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

How many special ed students graduated within 6 years?

53%54%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

This school offers team teaching and self-contained classes.

How many students with disabilities spend most of the day with non-disabled peers?

75%68%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

How many teachers say students with disabilities are included in all activities?

77%89%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

How well does this school serve English language learners?

How many English language learners graduated within 4 years?

NA

37%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

How many English language learners graduated within 6 years?

NA

56%CITYWIDE AVERAGE

Citywide Average KeyThis school is Green better Blue Near Red Worse Than The Citywide AverageNote: NA means not available or not applicable. Graduation rates not available for new schools.

Programs and Admissions

School admission priorities:

Priority to Brooklyn students or residents who attend an information session